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Kings seeking quick rebound against Dallas

by
Alex Kinkopf
/ Los Angeles Kings

STARS (5-6-4) at KINGS (8-4-4)

7:30PM PT, TV: FOX SPORTS WEST; RADIO: AM 790 KABC

STARRY NIGHT: Tonight marks the second of three meetings with the Dallas Stars this season. All three games the Kings play against Dallas are scheduled during the month of November; they’ll finish the season series on November 22 at American Airlines Center. The Stars snapped a seven-game losing streak (0-5-2) Tuesday night against the Arizona Coyotes with a 4-3 win. Dallas has fared much better on the road this season (4-3-0) than they have on home ice (1-3-4).

DR. JONES: Expect Martin Jones to get the call in net tonight for the Kings following Jonathan Quick’s 44-save performance Wednesday night in Anaheim. This will be Jones’ third start of the season; he made 29 saves in a win against the Winnipeg Jets on October 12, and made 23 saves in a loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 30. Jones comes into the night with a 1.73 GAA and a .929 SV%.

HOME COOKIN’: The Kings, unlike the Stars, have thrived on home ice this season. They’re coming into tonight’s date with a 7-1-1 mark at STAPLES Center, riding an eight-game point streak in home confines. Tonight, they begin a four-game home stand. In Dallas’ last five visits to Los Angeles over the course of the past two seasons, the Kings are 2-2-1.

Kari Lehtonen has left the ice, presumably to prepare himself for the role of starter vs. the Kings tonight.

GOALS APLENTY: Offense hasn’t been an issue for the Kings of recent; they’ve scored a combined ten goals in their previous two games, and fourteen in their past four. Dallas comes into the night with the NHL’s third-worst defense, allowing 3.47 goals per game, only beating out Columbus’ 3.67 mark, which is the worst on the league. Can the Kings continue their offensive prowess tonight against Dallas’ struggling defense?

THE LAST TIME AROUND: In the Kings’ first meeting with the Stars this season, coming on November 4 in Dallas at the American Airlines Center, the Kings won 3-1. It was their first, and only road win of the season so far. Jonathan Quick made 33 saves, while Trevor Lewis (SH), Dustin Brown, and Kyle Clifford chipped in with goals. Brown, who was celebrating his 30th birthday that day, scored the game-winning goal.

WE’RE DOING IT LIVE: Catch KINGS LIVE at 7:00PM PT on FOX SPORTS WEST, followed with Bob and Jim on the live play-by-play call on scene at STAPLES Center for puck drop at 7:30PM PT.